" To Bigger and his kind white people were not really people;they were a sort of great natural force, like a sky looming overhead, or like a deep swirling river stretching suddenly at one's feet in the dark[...] But whether they feared it or not, each and every day of their lives they lived with it; even when words did not sound its name, they acknowledged its reality"(114).
Significance:This quote shows how Bigger has no control over what happens. He and all of the other black people are not or will not ever be higher up in society than white people. Every day Bigger has to live with the fact that he is basically a no one in society. I think this has something to do with why he killed Mary. He has so much stress and is so paranoid now, that he did not know what else to do. Bigger has to find a way to try and tune it all out so it doesn't ruin the rest of his life.
Question: Will Bigger trust Bessie?
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Native Son: p.77-94
Quote: "She was dead and he had killed her. He was a murderer, a Negro murderer, a black murderer. He had killed a white woman."(87).
Significance: Bigger has set himself up for failure. He has officially lost it. He killed Mary by suffocating her. I don't know what he was thinking but he has now given people something to talk about. When people find out what they did, they will think horrible things about black people(if they didn't before). Also, the scene with the furnace and her head not fitting..this makes Bigger seem like a psycho. I don't know how he went to sleep after that. People are now going to stereotype blacks as being killers.
Question: What will happen Mr.Dalton do once he finds out about Mary?
Significance: Bigger has set himself up for failure. He has officially lost it. He killed Mary by suffocating her. I don't know what he was thinking but he has now given people something to talk about. When people find out what they did, they will think horrible things about black people(if they didn't before). Also, the scene with the furnace and her head not fitting..this makes Bigger seem like a psycho. I don't know how he went to sleep after that. People are now going to stereotype blacks as being killers.
Question: What will happen Mr.Dalton do once he finds out about Mary?
Native Son: p.53-77
Quote: "The difference in his feelings toward Mrs. Dalton and his mother was that he felt that his mother wanted him to do the things she wanted him to do, and he felt that Mrs. Dalton wanted him to do the things she felt that he should have wanted to do"(61).
Significance: Through this quote, we see how Mrs. Dalton treats Bigger with more respect than his own mother. I find this quote ironic because a white woman is treating a black man nicely and not treating him like he is different from her. Bigger's own mother does not have an open mind about things. She wants him to do things that he doesn't necessarily want to do; just things that will benefit the whole family. On the other hand, Mrs. Dalton looks out for Bigger's best interests and looks at situations based on what Bigger likes.
Question: Are Jan and Mary trying to take advantage of Bigger for their benefit?
Significance: Through this quote, we see how Mrs. Dalton treats Bigger with more respect than his own mother. I find this quote ironic because a white woman is treating a black man nicely and not treating him like he is different from her. Bigger's own mother does not have an open mind about things. She wants him to do things that he doesn't necessarily want to do; just things that will benefit the whole family. On the other hand, Mrs. Dalton looks out for Bigger's best interests and looks at situations based on what Bigger likes.
Question: Are Jan and Mary trying to take advantage of Bigger for their benefit?
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Native Son: p.30-53
Quote: "Poor white people were stupid. It was the rich white people who were smart and knew how to treat people"(34).
Significance:In this quote, we see how Bigger classifies white people as being rich and poor. In his opinion, he thinks that rich white people know how to treat people and are smart. On the other hand, he does not classify poor white people as being anything. I think this is because since Bigger and his family are poor that he doesn't feel that need to characterize someone who is just like him, but with a different skin color. Any way you look at it, both the rich and poor white people are going to treat the blacks differently because they know that they are higher up on the social scale than them.
Question: Will Bigger realize that robbing the store will be a bad thing against him and his gang?
Significance:In this quote, we see how Bigger classifies white people as being rich and poor. In his opinion, he thinks that rich white people know how to treat people and are smart. On the other hand, he does not classify poor white people as being anything. I think this is because since Bigger and his family are poor that he doesn't feel that need to characterize someone who is just like him, but with a different skin color. Any way you look at it, both the rich and poor white people are going to treat the blacks differently because they know that they are higher up on the social scale than them.
Question: Will Bigger realize that robbing the store will be a bad thing against him and his gang?
Monday, March 23, 2009
Native Son to p.1-30
Quote: " Above the top of the poster were tall red letters: YOU CAN"T WIN!" (13)
Significance: Although this quote may not have much significance at this pint in the book, I think this may have a greater significance later on in the book. Currently, blacks are not looked upon as being good or wealthy people. Whites are the ones who rule the city and can get or have anything they want. In my opinion, the phrase "YOU CAN'T WIN!," is directed towards the blacks. If the whites and blacks were currently in a race, the whites would be in the lead and this poster tells them they are not fast enough to win the race. With a little more energy and teamwork, they CAN win. This seems to be a foreshadow that blacks may have some significance and power later on in the book.
Question: Do Bigger and Jack ever agree on anything in the book?
Significance: Although this quote may not have much significance at this pint in the book, I think this may have a greater significance later on in the book. Currently, blacks are not looked upon as being good or wealthy people. Whites are the ones who rule the city and can get or have anything they want. In my opinion, the phrase "YOU CAN'T WIN!," is directed towards the blacks. If the whites and blacks were currently in a race, the whites would be in the lead and this poster tells them they are not fast enough to win the race. With a little more energy and teamwork, they CAN win. This seems to be a foreshadow that blacks may have some significance and power later on in the book.
Question: Do Bigger and Jack ever agree on anything in the book?
Sunday, March 22, 2009
1984 essay
Julia Lombardo
3/19/09
English 10 Honors
Period B
1984 Essay
The Party’s Control
In the book 1984, written by George Orwell, Oceania is controlled by the Party.
The Party is a very strict government that controls every aspect of the citizen’s lives. The
Party does not let the people have any freedom in their everyday lives. The people can
not talk about their feelings or what they do not like about the society. Every move the
make and every step they take is being overlooked by the Party to make sure no one is
breaking the rules. The most important aspects of the Party are to be infallible,
omniscient and omnipotent, or similar to God.
What makes the Party so strong is their infallibility. To be infallible is, “unfailing
in effectiveness or operation; certain” (dictionary.com). A perfect example of this is the
concept of two plus two equals five. Before the Party made this statement, Winston knew
in his head that two plus two equaled four, but what the Party tells people is the truth. “In
the end the Party would announce that two and two made five, and you would have to
believe it” (80). Since the Party made this claim, everyone must believe it, and if they did
not, they would have to use doublethink to forget that they knew two plus two equaled
four. The point of doublethink was to prevent people from remembering they knew
something, but then they would have to forget that they forgot about it. “ To know and
not to know, to be conscious of complete truthfulness while telling carefully constructed
lies... to forget, whatever it was necessary to forget, then to draw it back into memory
again at the moment when it was needed, and then promptly to forget it again, and above
all to apply the same process to the process itself…” (35). The Party takes complete
control over the people’s minds and can see what they are thinking. If everyone in
Oceania believes everything the Party tells them, they are incapable of being overthrown
and still have the people in the palm of their hands.
Another aspect of the Party that makes them so powerful is the fact that they are
omniscient. To be omniscient is “having total knowledge; knowing everything”
(dictionary.com). Big Brother is the leader created by the Party. His posters are hung
everywhere in Oceania with the popular slogan “Big Brother is Watching You”
underneath them. Big Brother has never been seen in person by anyone, but the people
have the idea that he is a very powerful man and should be treated as a God. The Party
sees everything and knows what is going on in Oceania at all times. The Telescreens that
are located in every room of every building, even people’s houses, make it possible for
them to see what everyone is doing at all times. The Telescreens also allow the Thought
Police to keep an eye on the people to make sure they do not rebel or do anything against
their rules, such as having an expression on your face that makes the Thought Police
assume you are up to no good. “No one who had once fallen into the hands of the
Thought Police ever escaped in the end. They were corpses waiting to be sent back to the
grave” (76). Being both infallible and omniscient makes the Party almost impossible to
conquer.
The last aspect that makes the Party unstoppable is the fact that they are
omnipotent. To be omnipotent means “almighty or infinite in power, as God”
(dictionary.com). Power is the main focus of the Party at all times. If they have all of the
power, they are unstoppable and can basically do anything they please. Complete power
over the people is one of the main reasons why the Party is so successful. They mainly
use their power to control the past. Anything that happened in the past that the Party
did not want to people to know or remember was simply erased; like it never happened
to begin with. “ Who controls the past, controls the future: who controls the present
controls the past” (34). Since the Party controls all of history they can alter anything,
even if someone ever existed or not. The people are powerless compared to the Party
because they do not have the information they need to defeat the Party. Although, there is
one group that has enough people to overthrow the Party; the proles. Even though the
proles consist of many people, if they were to try and overthrow the Party, they would be
ineffective because they are not aware of their strength. “ But the proles, if only they
could somehow become conscious of their own strength, would have no need to
conspire” (69). The power of the Party has made them strong and unable to be
overthrown by anyone.
In conclusion, the Party has control over all of the power because of its ability to
control everyone and everything in society. The most important aspects of the Party are
to be infallible, omniscient and omnipotent, or similar to God. The way they set up their
government makes them superior to everyone else and will do anything to maintain their
absolute power.
3/19/09
English 10 Honors
Period B
1984 Essay
The Party’s Control
In the book 1984, written by George Orwell, Oceania is controlled by the Party.
The Party is a very strict government that controls every aspect of the citizen’s lives. The
Party does not let the people have any freedom in their everyday lives. The people can
not talk about their feelings or what they do not like about the society. Every move the
make and every step they take is being overlooked by the Party to make sure no one is
breaking the rules. The most important aspects of the Party are to be infallible,
omniscient and omnipotent, or similar to God.
What makes the Party so strong is their infallibility. To be infallible is, “unfailing
in effectiveness or operation; certain” (dictionary.com). A perfect example of this is the
concept of two plus two equals five. Before the Party made this statement, Winston knew
in his head that two plus two equaled four, but what the Party tells people is the truth. “In
the end the Party would announce that two and two made five, and you would have to
believe it” (80). Since the Party made this claim, everyone must believe it, and if they did
not, they would have to use doublethink to forget that they knew two plus two equaled
four. The point of doublethink was to prevent people from remembering they knew
something, but then they would have to forget that they forgot about it. “ To know and
not to know, to be conscious of complete truthfulness while telling carefully constructed
lies... to forget, whatever it was necessary to forget, then to draw it back into memory
again at the moment when it was needed, and then promptly to forget it again, and above
all to apply the same process to the process itself…” (35). The Party takes complete
control over the people’s minds and can see what they are thinking. If everyone in
Oceania believes everything the Party tells them, they are incapable of being overthrown
and still have the people in the palm of their hands.
Another aspect of the Party that makes them so powerful is the fact that they are
omniscient. To be omniscient is “having total knowledge; knowing everything”
(dictionary.com). Big Brother is the leader created by the Party. His posters are hung
everywhere in Oceania with the popular slogan “Big Brother is Watching You”
underneath them. Big Brother has never been seen in person by anyone, but the people
have the idea that he is a very powerful man and should be treated as a God. The Party
sees everything and knows what is going on in Oceania at all times. The Telescreens that
are located in every room of every building, even people’s houses, make it possible for
them to see what everyone is doing at all times. The Telescreens also allow the Thought
Police to keep an eye on the people to make sure they do not rebel or do anything against
their rules, such as having an expression on your face that makes the Thought Police
assume you are up to no good. “No one who had once fallen into the hands of the
Thought Police ever escaped in the end. They were corpses waiting to be sent back to the
grave” (76). Being both infallible and omniscient makes the Party almost impossible to
conquer.
The last aspect that makes the Party unstoppable is the fact that they are
omnipotent. To be omnipotent means “almighty or infinite in power, as God”
(dictionary.com). Power is the main focus of the Party at all times. If they have all of the
power, they are unstoppable and can basically do anything they please. Complete power
over the people is one of the main reasons why the Party is so successful. They mainly
use their power to control the past. Anything that happened in the past that the Party
did not want to people to know or remember was simply erased; like it never happened
to begin with. “ Who controls the past, controls the future: who controls the present
controls the past” (34). Since the Party controls all of history they can alter anything,
even if someone ever existed or not. The people are powerless compared to the Party
because they do not have the information they need to defeat the Party. Although, there is
one group that has enough people to overthrow the Party; the proles. Even though the
proles consist of many people, if they were to try and overthrow the Party, they would be
ineffective because they are not aware of their strength. “ But the proles, if only they
could somehow become conscious of their own strength, would have no need to
conspire” (69). The power of the Party has made them strong and unable to be
overthrown by anyone.
In conclusion, the Party has control over all of the power because of its ability to
control everyone and everything in society. The most important aspects of the Party are
to be infallible, omniscient and omnipotent, or similar to God. The way they set up their
government makes them superior to everyone else and will do anything to maintain their
absolute power.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
1984- end of book
Quote: "Do it to Julia! Do it to Julia! Not me! Julia! I don't care what you do to her. Tear her face off, strip her to the bones. Not me! Julia! Not me!" (286).
Significance: This quote shows us how Winston was not true to Julia and how he basically lied. He said no matter what he would always love Julia and never give up. By saying this he is basically betraying Julia and giving himself to the Party. Winston has lost his mind and he has given up the one thing that he loved so much. He made a BIG mistake!
Define 2 words:
capitulate: (v.) to surrender unconditionally
torpid: (adj.) having lost motion or the power of exertion
Significance: This quote shows us how Winston was not true to Julia and how he basically lied. He said no matter what he would always love Julia and never give up. By saying this he is basically betraying Julia and giving himself to the Party. Winston has lost his mind and he has given up the one thing that he loved so much. He made a BIG mistake!
Define 2 words:
capitulate: (v.) to surrender unconditionally
torpid: (adj.) having lost motion or the power of exertion
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
1984- 3.3 (260-274)
Quote: " The Party seeks power entirely for its own sake. We are not interested in the good of others; we are interested solely in power... What pure power means you will understand presently" (263).
Significance: Through this quote we now see in full context that Winston is fully helping the Party to gain power, and only power. The people of Oceania are of no concern to the Party unless they get in their way of gaining power. In the last line of this quote, I think it is a foreshadowing of Winston becoming a part of the Party or helping them in someway to gain complete power over absolutely everything.
Define 2 words:
relinquishing:v. - to retire from; give up or abandon (263)
feebly:adv. - in a faint or weak manner (263)
Significance: Through this quote we now see in full context that Winston is fully helping the Party to gain power, and only power. The people of Oceania are of no concern to the Party unless they get in their way of gaining power. In the last line of this quote, I think it is a foreshadowing of Winston becoming a part of the Party or helping them in someway to gain complete power over absolutely everything.
Define 2 words:
relinquishing:v. - to retire from; give up or abandon (263)
feebly:adv. - in a faint or weak manner (263)
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
1984- p.218-239
Quote: " You knew this, Winston," said O'Brien, "Don't deceive yourself. You did know it- you have always known it" (239).
Significance: This quote is significance because it gives the example of how people are not always what they seem in the book. Someone may seem like they are on your side, but are actually just trying to deceive you. This is true for O'Brien. Winston and O'Brien would talk about things they did or didn't like about what was happening and now O'Brien is not even on Winston's side. I think this is very messed up because Winston trusted in O'Brien and thought he was a friend that he could look to.
Define 2 words:
Timorously:adj.-full of fear; fearful (234)
Plexus: n.- a network, as of nerves or blood vessels
Significance: This quote is significance because it gives the example of how people are not always what they seem in the book. Someone may seem like they are on your side, but are actually just trying to deceive you. This is true for O'Brien. Winston and O'Brien would talk about things they did or didn't like about what was happening and now O'Brien is not even on Winston's side. I think this is very messed up because Winston trusted in O'Brien and thought he was a friend that he could look to.
Define 2 words:
Timorously:adj.-full of fear; fearful (234)
Plexus: n.- a network, as of nerves or blood vessels
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